.

.

Races  8 - 9

.

June 13th - 15th

-

.

 SILVERSTONE

 " INTERNATIONAL"

.-

2 x 30  minute "Sprint" races

-

-

Plus  . . . . . . . 

-

The  " Signtec Trophy "

30 minute "Sprint" race

--

-

,

Equipe"GTS  returned to Silverstone for the annual MG extravaganza, hosted by the MGCC and what has proved to be the biggest MG meeting in the World. 

An action packed 3 day weekend, with not only car racing, but a timed sprint, auto-tests, displays, trade stands, car spares and autojumble, concours and very much more, typically attended from MG enthusiasts from all over the globe.

-

-

The appeal of Equipe"GTS  was no better illustrated than at the worlds largest MG meeting where seventy four grid spots were allocated between the Virgin Radio Classic Rock and  Signtec supported ed races.

Series organisers Jim Lowry and Christophe Wilmart were awarded three races for the Octagon bash, just desserts for the entertaining and colourful racing on tap.

-

-

-

Saturday morning qualifying saw just over a second separate the top four, with the Class 4 Grantura of Mark Ashworth leading the TVR charge from Rod Begbie, the Class 5 TR4 of Neil Howe in third and Stephen Radcliffe the best placed MGB in fourth. Series newcomer Mike Harris, the Elva Courier of Chris Woodgate and the Gilbern GT of Mike Bell impressed, while the Class 2 tiddlers were lead by John Palmer in the MG Midget and Class 3 was headed by Mark Ellis in the MGA twin cam.

-

=

Saturday - A dry track and sunny day furthered the fun factor as a titanic struggle between Ashworth and Howe ended with the narrowest of margins awarded to the TVR.

 The absence of the unfortunate Begbie with mechanical woes after qualifying meant the MGB's of Radcliffe and Tom Smith duked it out over the line for the last podium spot. Biggest mover of the day was Tim Patchett with a drive from 21st to 11th with Class 3 being dominated by the Ellis MGA. A spin from the MGB of Holger Felske helped the WSM Sprite of Tony Wilson Spratt up to 22nd and head Class 2 as Palmer's Midget retired on lap 7 and the similar WSM Sprite of Clive Cocks was stricken by a misfire mid race.

-

-

Sunday - The Signtec Trophy race saw Howe turn the tables on the Ashworth father and son partnership who swapped mounts and beat Simon Ashworth in the TVR and Mark in the MGB. Peter Edney hassled Mark to the flag and the MGB's of Gordon Bruce and Jurgen Felske squabbled mightily over 8th place. Diane Osbourne took the Radcliffe MGB to a strong 16th, pipping good drives from novice Peter Bolderson and Michelle Kirkpatrick.   Mark Hoble who had previoslly raced his Lancia Flavia Zagato in Equipe"GTS  saddled up his very early long door TR2 and kept the very pretty Alfa Giulia Spider of Doug Martin at bay. Dennis Bron from the Netherlands topped Class 3 in his MGA Twin Cam Coupe.

-

-

Sunday - Seconds out, round two. Howe and Mark Ashworth took up right where they left off . The gloves off approach meant they both beat Ashworth's 2007 lap record, and the crowd was royally entertained. A jubilant Howe agreed with Ashworth that both had made mistakes, but outstanding driving further enhanced the series reputation. Smith comprehensively took back the MGB crown from Radcliffe, and Palmer showed that mechanical woes with the ex-Raultonen Midget were well and truly fixed by scalping Class 2 and taking Driver of the Day. 

Patchett shone again, this time fending off Piers Ward in his TVR Grantura for 10th. A Bolderson MGB spin at Copse in front of Wilson Spratt's WSM Sprite woke up both pilots, while Cocks was chuffed with his own WSM Sprite's lap times 3 seconds quicker with a healthy car and fought with the Morgan Plus 4 of Mark Shears to the line.     

TWS